The Heisman Trophy winner is getting married.
On May 24, Travis will say “I do” to fiancée Leanna Lenne in Tennessee, marking one of the biggest moments of his life. But in classic Hunter fashion, this story comes with a twist—and some courtroom drama.
The wedding of Travis Hunter is set to take place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as confirmed by multiple reports. Which makes sense—Chattanooga is just 138 miles from Hunter’s hometown and is a favorite for weddings.
Disregarding the Leanna takes (that's for you clickbait sites), this one is all about the legal hurdles Travis' father has to continuously jump over to keep attending these big days for his son.
As we know, Travis Hunter Sr. is currently serving three years of community control supervision, basically house arrest, following a guilty plea for drug possession and illegal firearm charges.
So for Travis Jr.’s wedding, his father had to request special permission to attend. However, the twist is, his legal team didn’t just want him there for the wedding—they were also asking for a lighter sentence.
They are arguing that his son’s new NFL career means better living conditions and employment opportunities for Hunter Sr.
"His son is able to give him stable housing and a stable environment… Those things are not asking for special treatment."Attorney Bradford Cohen
“This Sounds Like Special Treatment”
Palm Beach County Judge Howard Coates pushed back hard, saying it looked like a case of someone trying to leverage their kid’s NFL stardom to get out early.
“You’re almost arguing for special treatment,” Coates said in court. “I don’t know that changes the father’s situation for me.”
And while he denied the reduced sentence request, he did grant permission for Hunter Sr. to attend the wedding. So, despite the friction, Travis will have his dad by his side on one of the most important days of his life.
That’s something.
Now look, I get it. Judges are supposed to treat everyone equally under the law. But this isn’t just any case. This is a unique, life-changing moment—for both Travis Hunter and his father.
This situation is different and that should matter
I’m with the attorney on this one.
Life changes. Circumstances shift. The courts know this—that’s why people request sentence modifications when new jobs arise and when their environments change for the better. That’s not asking for favoritism.
And yes, not every dad has a son who wins the Heisman and gets drafted second overall. But that shouldn’t disqualify someone from receiving grace when things start heading in the right direction.
Especially for a non-violent crime.
This isn’t about being famous. This is about a father trying to be present for his son, to support his family during a once-in-a-lifetime moment, and maybe—just maybe—step into a healthier, more stable life because of it.
And to be clear, they weren’t asking for charges to disappear. They weren’t ducking accountability. They were simply acknowledging: Travis' father's life is drastically in a different place, and he wants to be part of something that we should all see as good.
Three years isn’t forever
Now, with all that said, Judge Coates didn’t grant the full request. Hunter Sr. will still serve his full sentence, including the current phase of community control. And you know what?
Three years isn’t forever.
Yes, I'm sure it's not fun not being able to do more. But, just like with the NFL Draft, the judge did approve Hunter Sr. to attend the wedding—and that’s huge.
The important part is that he’ll be there on May 24, standing with his son. Travis Jr. will have his father with him—and that’s what really matters.
Sometimes, that’s enough.